Duck season has come and gone. It was mostly a forgettable one. The early cold weather in November and the relatively mild December and January meant that Virginia did not hold many birds this year. The following is one highlight of an otherwise down year.
Duck hunting in tidal saltwater is unique. We are blessed with extensive marshes, bays, creeks, and rivers that are right in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and early 1900s market gunning, duck hunting on the Chesapeake is a shadow of what it once was. Those who continue to hunt here value process over product; tradition over a heavy game strap. But we still put in the effort to put birds on the ground, using a variety of methods for the diverse landscape we find ourselves in.
Throughout much of the early part of the season, dabbling ducks frequent the coastal marshes of the Bay. These are often the same areas where I target speckled trout and puppy drum in the summer and fall – shallow eelgrass flats ringed with spartina grass and maritime forests. Oftentimes the water is too shallow to be accessed with a skiff, so I resort to using a kayak. The advantages are numerous: paddling a kayak is practically silent, so you don’t alert any roosting birds to your presence, it lets you reach places that most hunters won’t spend the extra effort to get to, and it lets you launch in places that are otherwise inaccessible with a larger boat.
Saturday January 4th was a perfect ducky day – a breeze from the west with heavy clouds and intermittent drizzle. With the low ceiling, I knew birds would be flying near treetop height instead of sky high, and the poor visibility would help conceal me. I took my kayak deep into a marshy creek that opened up at the end into a small hole. The hole was small enough that two black duck decoys and six teal decoys were sufficient to create an attractive landing area. The early minutes of legal shooting time were uneventful, except for a pair of hooded mergansers that made a Mach 2 crash landing in the decoys.
After about an hour, a lone black duck appeared high over the nearest tree line. The attitude was inviting; he wasn’t making a beeline for a predetermined destination, and responded to my call by circling twice. He must’ve seen something amiss on the third pass, and moved on. Just ten minutes later, a group of four came in low over the same tree-line. They were about to bypass the hole when a simple quaaacck wheeled them around for a pass at 20 yards. I blasted three embarrassing holes in the sky, and the four black ducks jetted off the way they came. I hardly had time for self pity when a shot at redemption came once again over the treeline. Three more black ducks, moving left to right at 25 yards. From where I was hunkered down it was an awkward twisting shot, but I downed one. I stayed for another hour, the only other activity being a dozen swans that suddenly appeared out of the mist and gracefully passed over the hole. I was lucky to get three separate chances on black ducks in one morning.
I use a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 kayak, which is a sit-on top model designed for fishing, but it also lends itself well to duck hunting. First, a sit on top model, as opposed to a sit-in, is practically unsinkable. If you get into trouble and roll the kayak, you can simply roll it over and retain 100% mobility – no bailing requiring. If you’re in water that’s too deep to stand, the kayak is an excellent flotation aid because it’s hollow and full of air. The sit on top design makes it easy to get in and out of while wearing bulky waders, and you can easily strap gear of all shapes and sizes to the open top decks. If you have a trained dog, they can even come along for the ride.
There is ample room for a half dozen or so decoys in the front hatch, which is a perfect amount for the backwater areas I paddle to. Carrying lots of large goose decoys can be problematic, but that’s where it helps to have a friend or two come along. A floating case for the shotgun is 100% necessary, and I usually take only the bare necessities from my large blind bag and stuff them into assorted pockets in my jacket & waders.
When planning a hunt, be strategic about the weather conditions, the launch point, and the destination to maximize safety and efficiency. Consider the tide and the effect of wind on the tide, and set a dedicated departure time if the falling tide will prevent you from getting back to the launch. Consider paddling speed of 2-3 knots and the time it will take to transit to your spot. Plan for plenty of time so you’re not in a hurry; safety is often overlooked when you’re in a rush. Also consider that a longer paddle in the calm lee of a protected shoreline or over shallow water may be preferential to a shorter paddle in rough water or water too deep to stand.
Once you’re at your spot, hide in or around the tallest marsh grass you can find; it will help to break up your profile. Arrange for permission from the property owner to sit on the marsh, or draw your kayak right up against the bank and stake it in the mud through the drain holes. Shooting from a seated position can be awkward, so situate yourself to get an optimal shot according to the wind direction and anticipated bird traffic. Have your call at the ready to minimize movement when ducks begin circling, and use a load suited for both geese or ducks, like tungsten 3’s, so you don’t have to fumble to change out shotshells when honkers set their wings for the spread.
Now is a great time to get a kayak, practice and scout over the spring and summer, so that when next fall arrives, you can be ready to go the extra mile and put more birds on the plate. Although I have a foul taste in my mouth right now, my appetite for cold early mornings and marsh mud will be restored by October, and I will hopefully see you out there.